Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs

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Exeter Chiefs:

15 Dan John

14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso

13 Henry Slade

12 Ben Hammersley

11 Paul Brown-Bampoe

10 Harvey Skinner

9 Stephen Varney


1 Will Goodrick-Clarke

2 Jack Yeandle

3 Josh Iosefa-Scott

4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)

5 Andrea Zambonin

6 Ethan Roots

7 Greg Fisilau

8 Ross Vintcent


Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven

17 Ethan Burger

18 Bachuki Tchumbadze

19 Rusi Tuima

20 Lewis Pearson

21 Kane James

22 Charlie Chapman

23 Nick Lilley

Bristol Bears:

15. Benjamin Elizalde

14. Josh Carrington

13. Jack Bates

12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg

11. Kalaveti Ravouvou ,

10. Tom Jordan,

9. Kieran Marmion,

1. Ellis Genge ,

2. Gabriel Oghre

3. George Kloska

4. Pedro Rubiolo,

5. Joe Batley,

6. Santiago Grondona ,

7. Fitz Harding (c)

8. Viliame Mata

Replacements:

16. Harry Thacker,

17. Jake Woolmore

18. Lovejoy Chawatama

19. James Dun

20. Joe Owen

21. Oscar Lennon

22. Sam Worsley

23. Max Pepper

Match Officials

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Matthew Carley & Simon Harding
TMO: David Rose

Weather Forecast as at 1200 Friday

Sunny intervals and light winds from the north east
Temperature 15 degrees will feel like 16 degrees
Precipitation is not expected

TV Coverage

Discovery Channel from 1445

Don't like the TMO Rosie situation again as he's far too involved, but I still say we can hold Brizz, but it'll be close.
Bears 23 Chiefs 24

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Given their injury list they still look a fairly strong side, particularly in the pack. Is Dweba rested? If we're still in touch with 10-15 to go I think we could nick it, however it'll be close Bears 26 - 22 Chiefs.

A very close game I think Brizz 24 - 28 Exe but I could be wrong.

They are missing a lot of key players and their bench looks very inexperienced. Keep Slade away from their No. 8 and say with them till around the hour mark and we could sneak this one. Bristol 24 Chiefs 30.

Bristol 20 - 31 Exeter Here’s hoping

Bris 22 Chiefs 32

Bristol 21 Chiefs 35

Bears have got probably one of the best 12s in the country, but I’m sure ours is better…

Bears 31, Chiefs 26

The continued selection of Hammersley at 12 is mind boggling.

Quote:

CullyChief
The continued selection of Hammersley at 12 is mind boggling.

Watch him score a couple of tries tomorrow now and Ikitau be kept out of the side!

Gonna be a good one tomorrow I think, Bears 29 Chiefs 35



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:10:14:18:33 by ExeterFan.

I’m happy to be eating my words in that after the pre season games I felt nothing had dramatically changed. After the first two rounds it’s clear the squad has changed and we have a lot of grit, determination and purpose. I still think it’s relatively early in the season, teams have had players missing and inevitably there will be tough games and losses but I am more optimistic than I was a month ago. My prediction for Bears away:

Bears 25 Chiefs 37

Bears 29 - 32 Chiefs

Bears 25 - 27 Chiefs
we might just scrape past the post

Quote:

DumnoniiNomad
Don't like the TMO Rosie situation again as he's far too involved, but I still say we can hold Brizz, but it'll be close.
Bears 23 Chiefs 24

Interesting DN, WE (Bris) have the same thoughts, Rosie interferes too much.

I was hopelessly wrong last week and again we are playing a much weakened side. We are away though and with a front row which does not inspire any confidence in me as our no 12 doesn't. Generally their pack looks useful. I hope we do to give a lot of scrum penalties away and Yenz does not have either white line fever or the yips with his darts. I think it will be a high scoring game - Bristol 38 Chiefs 27. It would be good to be wrong again.

Still a very mobile and exciting Bristol team, Van Rensburg must be licking his lips having to face Hammersley, think he will run all over him in contact unfortunately. I think Bristol will score at will, Sants 2nd team did so no reason to think Bristol won’t. To get anything out of the game we need to be brave and play expansive rugby and try to get 4 tries for a bonus point. Bristol 38 Chiefs 27.

Bears 27 - 36 Chiefs

Watching Frost and Innard play last week makes we wish that we had said thanyou and goodbye to Yenz and kept on of those two on.

I hope that he and Hammersley prove me wrong, but they are the weak links in this team.

I fear a Briz bounce after last week but going with hope in my heart based on their weakened state. Ex 31 Bris 25

A hard one to predict. In times gone by you'd say Bristol had a better back line but a weaker pack. Looking at those teams you could argue that the opposite is true this time. We have a few obvious weak spots, no need to point them out again. Bris though have four of their most influential players missing. They do have a few retuning internationals, a lot may depend on the strength/fitness of their Argentine players. Our bench looks stronger too. Being Bristol though they could run in 50 points from nowhere, or decide defence is optional and ship 50!! I think because both sets of fans predict a high scoring game. I feel it could fall either way, I'm going to go with home advantage paying off, Away wins are rare in this league. Brizz 38 Chiefs 31.
I hope I'm wrong!! Not that I wish for this to happen but any injuries in the Bristol backline would be hard for them to cover.

Who knows?

Bristol 23 27 Chiefs



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:10:22:08:51 by Ljs399.

Bristol 25 Chiefs 35, let's do this.

Progress this season would be picking up bonus points away from home. A point would be a good result and then make home a fortress. They have a strong pack, but our back 5 is equally as strong if not better. Good carriers, big defenders and line out options.

That’s still a strong starting 15 for Bristol and they are at home. Our away result against Saints should give us belief that we lacked through last season to perform away from home. Two porous defences…

Bristol 31 Chiefs 35. In hope

This is a real opportunity but at the same time a real test as Bris will play a similar way to Saints so which Chiefs will turn up?
The Chiefs that played the first half when Saints cut us apart or the second half chiefs that nilled Saints??
The most intriguing thing to me is to see how Hammersley gets on up against van Rensburg?
I can see us getting a result if all goes to plan so fingers crossed 🤞

Bristol 21 - Chiefs 28

Bears 31 Chiefs 28

Bears 27 Chiefs 30

Bears 34 Chiefs 33

Hammers getting hammered again
Yes his error rate has been higher than he or any of us would want but watch how much he does off the ball in support of others. He isn’t the long term answer at 12 but as I say watch the graft and team work he gets through

More importantly I’m looking forward to seeing Heaven and Burger show us what they’re made off - we very much need their fresh impetus to our front row - Dweba perhaps aside I’m not sure we’re certain of our best front row yet - be good to see the fight for the starting shirts

Bears 21 Chiefs 27

HIP HIP HOORAY

that collision was a rugby incident …. Well done ref